Results 1,621-1,640 of 21,128 for speaker:James Reilly

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I am not trying to——

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I wish to make a contribution after Deputy McGrath as I have just received a letter from the Ceann Comhairle——

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I wish to raise a point of order.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I came into this House this afternoon for Committee Stage of the Bill which in my view is very rushed. This is very important legislation which will change the social fabric of our country. It proposes to change the principle of universal entitlement to a medical card for those aged over 70 years. The Minister referred to an article in which I was quoted. She said I have not corrected the...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: Once this Stage is passed, we move on to Final Stages. There will be no further opportunity to debate the matter. There will be a vote.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: Only two amendments are left.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I so propose.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: Some 15 minutes.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I acknowledge that the Bills Office is under pressure. We did not allow circulation of our amendments until the required time as a protest against the guillotine being imposed on this Bill. I remind both the Ceann Comhairle and the Minister that rushed legislation invariably comes back to bite us. There are issues in this legislation that may well come back to bite us, notwithstanding the...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: A Cheann Comhairle, you are held in high esteem in this House. I hold you in high esteem too. I mean no disrespect but the dangerous territory you have arrived at is where one man's meat is another man's poison. You used three words to describe your actions. I am not sure if you used the word "fair", although that would be your view, but you used the words "dispassionate" and "objective"....

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: The amendment does not seek to undermine the totality of the Bill but seeks to ensure that those who currently hold a medical card are allowed to retain it. The Minister has made a decision regarding those who come later and the Government will agree with her. I suggest that rather than spending the time remaining discussing the Ceann Comhairle's ruling, to which we strenuously object, the...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: This issue, which we regard as a precedent——

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I suggest the Committee on Procedure and Privileges discuss the ruling as opposed to the Bill.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I also oppose this section. This is the meat of the Bill, and it will remove the entitlement of people over 70 to a medical card. They have grown used to that medical card, and some of them have had it for seven years. Now they are facing its loss. As Deputy Barrett pointed out, the fact that the income threshold has been changed from net to gross income will cause difficulty for many...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I will begin with the point Deputy Barrett has explored. The children's allowance, which is universally available, is given to the mother for the reasons to which Deputy Barrett alluded, that sometimes all is not as it seems in households. A woman may, ostensibly, have the use of her husband's income but may in fact not, and may not be treated properly. That is why the children's allowance...

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: I was not aware of these reports then.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: Absolutely.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: Nobody said that.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: ——increased access to the flu vaccine; it was stated clearly.

Health Bill 2008: Committee Stage (11 Dec 2008)

James Reilly: A total of 50% of them are waiting longer than six months; that information is also provided, with no mention of the waiting time to get to see a consultant to get on a waiting list.